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*hb0833*
HOUSE BILL 833
M3, M5 6lr2896
CF SB 553
By: Delegates Boyce and Stein, Stein, Allen, Jacobs, and Odom
Introduced and read first time: February 4, 2026
Assigned to: Environment and Transportation
Committee Report: Favorable with amendments
House action: Adopted
Read second time: March 6, 2026
CHAPTER ______
AN ACT concerning 1
Commission to Advance Lithium–Ion Battery Safety in Maryland – 2
Reestablishment 3
FOR the purpose of reestablishing the Commission to Advance Lithium–Ion Battery Safety 4
in Maryland with an altered membership and mandate; and generally relating to the 5
Commission to Advance Lithium–Ion Battery Safety in Maryland. 6
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 7
That: 8
(a) There is a Commission to Advance Lithium–Ion Battery Safety in Maryland. 9
(b) The Commission consists of: 10
(1) the following members serving on the Commission on December 31, 11
2025: 12
(i) one representative of the Department of the Environment, 13
appointed by the Secretary of the Environment; 14
(ii) the following members, appointed by the Director of the 15
Maryland Energy Administration: 16
1. one representative of the Maryland En ergy 17
Administration; 18
2 HOUSE BILL 833
2. one representative of a lithium–ion battery manufacturer 1
or a lithium–ion battery manufacturer trade group; and 2
3. one representative of a vehicle propulsion battery 3
manufacturer; 4
(iii) the State Fire Marshal, or the Fire Marshal’s designee; 5
(iv) one representative of the Power Plant Research Program, 6
appointed by the Secretary of Natural Resources; 7
(v) one representative of the Public Service Commission, appointed 8
by the Chair of the Public Service Commission; 9
(vi) the following members, appointed by the President of the 10
Maryland Association of Counties: 11
1. one representative with a background in emergency 12
response; 13
2. one representative with a background in public works; and 14
3. one representative with a background in climate, clean 15
energy, and infrastructure; 16
(vii) one representative of the Professional Firefighters of Maryland, 17
designated by the President of the Professional Firefighters of Maryland; 18
(viii) one representative of the Metropolitan Fire Chiefs Association, 19
designated by the President of the Metropolitan Fire Chiefs Association; 20
(ix) one representative of the Maryland Fire and Rescue Institute, 21
designated by the Director of the Maryland Fire and Rescue Institute; 22
(x) one citizen representative, designated by the President of the 23
Maryland State Firefighters Association; 24
(xi) one representative of a public utility in the State; 25
(xii) one representative of the Maryland Recycling Network; 26
(xiii) one representative of the Maryland –Delaware Solid Waste 27
Association; 28
(xiv) one representative of the vehicle dismantling sector; 29
HOUSE BILL 833 3
(xv) one representative of a battery recycling trade group; and 1
(xvi) one representa tive of the grid scale battery energy storage 2
industry; and 3
(2) the following additional members: 4
(i) one representative of the Maryland Port Administration, 5
appointed by the Secretary of Transportation; 6
(ii) one representative of the ocean frei ght shipping industry, 7
appointed by the Secretary of Transportation; 8
(iii) one representative of the property casualty insurance industry, 9
appointed by the Maryland Insurance Commissioner; 10
(iv) one representative of the commercial insurance indust ry, 11
appointed by the Maryland Insurance Commissioner; 12
(v) one representative of the Land and Materials Administration, 13
appointed by the Secretary of the Environment; and 14
(vi) one representative of the Towing and Recovery Professionals of 15
Maryland; 16
(vii) one representative of the Maryland Turfgrass Council; and 17
(viii) any other members as determined necessary by the Commission. 18
(c) The member serving as chair of the Commission on December 31, 2025, shall 19
continue to serve as chair of the Commission. 20
(d) The Office of the State Fire Marshal shall provide staff for the Commission. 21
(e) A member of the Commission: 22
(1) may not receive compensation as a member of the Commission; but 23
(2) is entitled to reimbursement for expenses under t he Standard State 24
Travel Regulations, as provided in the State budget. 25
(f) The Commission shall study and make legislative, regulatory, programmatic, 26
or other recommendations regarding: 27
(1) best practices, standards, and guidelines: 28
(i) to prevent, detect, and suppress lithium–ion battery fires in: 29
4 HOUSE BILL 833
1. consumer and transportation applications; and 1
2. utility applications, with review and consideration of the 2
National Fire Prevention Association 855 Standards for Grid Scale Storage and Safety; 3
(ii) to prevent, detect, and suppress lithium –ion fires at recycling 4
facilities; 5
(iii) for reusing, recycling, and decommissioning lithium –ion 6
batteries; and 7
(iv) for collecting, storing, and recycling lithium–ion batteries; 8
(2) the viability of extended producer responsibility for lithium –ion 9
batteries; 10
(3) training, education, and other information to better inform the public 11
and first responders regarding lithium–ion battery safety; 12
(4) battery risks at the Port of Balti more and on roads, rail, and tunnels 13
throughout Maryland; 14
(5) the impacts of battery risk on insurance providers and insurance 15
coverage availability; 16
(6) the integration of pending federal regulations and emerging 17
third–party standards; and 18
(7) any other global issues the Commission may consider useful for 19
enhancing the safety and reuse of batteries in the State. 20
(g) At the discretion of the Commission, the Commission may seek advice and 21
consultation from outside individuals and entities. 22
(h) (1) On or before December 1, 2026, the Commission shall submit an interim 23
report on the progress and status of the Commission to the Legislative Policy Committee, 24
in accordance with § 2–1257 of the State Government Article. 25
(2) On or before December 1, 2027, the Commission shall report its findings 26
and recommendations to the Governor and, in accordance with § 2 –1257 of the State 27
Government Article, the General Assembly. 28
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect June 29
1, 2026. It shall remain effective for a period of 2 years and 1 month and, at the end of June 30
30, 2028, this Act, with no further action required by the General Assembly, shall be 31
abrogated and of no further force and effect. 32